Is this overkill?
beautifulsparkles
Posts: 314 Member
Hoping to do 1-2 hours a day on the treadmill (walking), then 3 hours a week with a personal trainer doing strength training, flexibility etc.
I still have a lot of weight to lose. People seem to have a problem with cardio and worship weight lifting. Is it okay to do lots of both?
I still have a lot of weight to lose. People seem to have a problem with cardio and worship weight lifting. Is it okay to do lots of both?
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A good balance of both is ideal. However 1-2 hours walking on a treadmill per day does sound like something which might get old fast. I'm assuming there's a good reason for not walking outside (bad weather, don't feel safe, etc.) but how about swimming, trying a class, Youtube videos etc?
Also if you're new to exercise it might be better to build up slowly, rather than jump in with 10-17 hours per week right away. You don't want to burn yourself out/get injured 3 weeks in
Make sure you eat properly to full all that activity.0 -
@yesimpson I did about half that much exercise in 2015. I did 10,000 steps a day for about 5 months, and I saw a personal trainer for 1 1/2 hours a week. I found a trainer in my new city that is half the cost, so I am seeing twice as much of her.
The reason for spending so much time on the treadmill? I want to get my exercise over and done with, plus I like watching tv and movies, so I thought I could double up on activities. My goal at one point was to watch a movie a day, but I don't like walking on the spot, with carpet under my feet. My dad lives on the other side of the world, so I can also skype him while I walk. It also seems to rain a lot here, and if I don't do something during the day, I still have a chance to work-out at night. I have Bipolar, so I go through periods of massive oversleeping. I haven't had much energy lately, so I'm scared I will fall into that pattern again. I am kind of worried about the treadmill thing though, people have been saying it doesn't burn as many calories as straight walking? Walking already burns minimum calories so its not a good thought.0 -
beautifulsparkles wrote: »@yesimpson I did about half that much exercise in 2015. I did 10,000 steps a day for about 5 months, and I saw a personal trainer for 1 1/2 hours a week. I found a trainer in my new city that is half the cost, so I am seeing twice as much of her.
The reason for spending so much time on the treadmill? I want to get my exercise over and done with, plus I like watching tv and movies, so I thought I could double up on activities. My goal at one point was to watch a movie a day, but I don't like walking on the spot, with carpet under my feet. My dad lives on the other side of the world, so I can also skype him while I walk. It also seems to rain a lot here, and if I don't do something during the day, I still have a change to work-out at night. I have Bipolar, so I go through periods of massive oversleeping. I haven't had much energy lately, so I'm scared I will fall into that pattern again. I am kind of worried about the treadmill thing though, people have been saying it doesn't burn as many calories as straight walking? Walking already burns minimum calories so its not a good thought.
You might be absolutely fine with that level of exercise, you'll only know if you try, and you can always scale it back if you want to or if it becomes too much. Just IMO seems a lot of pressure to put on yourself if you are going through a period of low energy. I have heard that you burn less calories on a treadmill because the surface is working with you (as opposed to a stationary pavement) but I wouldn't stress over that. Any movement or activity is better than none - it doesn't need to be the most intense, most efficient calorie-burner-per-minute to be good for you and to help improve your fitness. If you like to walk whilst you're warm and comfortable and have a movie to watch, that sounds bmiles etter than forcing yourself to do something you don't enjoy, which will likely not last.0 -
I am trying to walk on the treadmill for an hour a day to begin with and as I lose some weight maybe do longer. im like you and watch tv at the same time I also have anxiety so going out is hard but by going to the gym each day I feel I ave achieved something0
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If you've got that much time to spend walking then seems find to me.0
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TavistockToad wrote: »If you've got that much time to spend walking then seems find to me.
Definately have enough time, will just get out of bed earlier! Many people watch tv for more than 2 hours a day anyway, instead of having some sort of hobby. Its sad. But I need to exercise anyway.0 -
I would check with the trainer.0
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beautifulsparkles wrote: »Hoping to do 1-2 hours a day on the treadmill (walking)...
What are you expecting to gain from that?
Nothing wrong with it, but if you've got 2 hours per day to spare then I'd aim for some sessions being a bit higher intensity.0 -
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Go for it. Nothing wrong with a treadmill; and if you combine it with TV it won't seem like such a chore to start with. Before long you'll be outside running in the fresh air! :-)0
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Whoa ! That's a lot ! But there are some people who can handle that much. Just make sure your eating enough to support all that activity and don't get discouraged if you can't do that much ( it really is a lot ! But like I said, some people can do it )
When you workout that much, you'll be running a larger deficit so just make sure you fuel yourself properly .
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I guess the question is, can you sustain this as a lifestyle change, or not? I couldn't. I do no more than 3 hours per week of planned workouts (I don't count walking or hiking as that's for pleasure). That is a level I believe I can sustain regardless of motivation.
In the beginning, enthusiasm is high and you can do a lot, but will you still be able to do that next year, the following year, the following ten years, etc., long after that initial enthusiasm fades?
A lot of people make drastic changes when losing weight and then regain weight after because they can't keep up with the changes they made so they fall back into old habits. Only you really know what your own limits are, here.0 -
If you want to mix things up, try the stationary bike or the elliptical. Nothing wrong with the treadmill, but for me, I like variety0
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The point of the treadmill was to get my 10,000 steps. People usually get that from being active on and off all day. I mostly sit on my butt most of the day, and I don't neccessarily wish to change that (not at this stage anyway). I still kinda hate exercise.0
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The 1-2 hours on the treadmill is overkill for me personally. I usually do 30 minutes a day and still manage to hit at least 10k steps a day with a sedentary job.0
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Not overkill, but if you're body isn't used to this sort of high volume exercise you'll get burnt out really fast. But once you start working out your body gets used to to. I used to think that working out four times a week was tough, but now after a year I work out for two hours every single day. So it's definitely manageable.0
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You'll probably want to increase the intensity as you go along, play around with the treadmill settings. While I was recovering from shin splints, I would walk 5k on the treadmill, but I had it on random hill setting and every 30 seconds or so the incline would either go up or down.0
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Walking on a treadmill for 1-2 hours a day will get boring really quickly even if watching movies at the same time. If you don't already run why don't you challenge yourself to run 5k? There are loads of couch to 5k programmes that you could follow on a treadmill and having an aim will help keep you motivated.0
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beautifulsparkles wrote: »The point of the treadmill was to get my 10,000 steps
Fair enough. Strikes me as incredibly boring, hence probably unsustainable, but not harmful.0 -
Here is a question. Is this a quick fix or a lifestyle change? Then ask your self if you are willing to dedicate 2 hours of boring training on a tread mill for an extended period of time. Idk if you are in good shape but you could burn 600 calories easily in an hours and with what you are eating
That could be the calorie deficit you need and even half the time for 300 calories. Just thinking good luck.0 -
I am hoping I will have more energy once I have lost more weight, and more fat will be gone so exercise will be more comfortable. Once I get closer to goal, I might consider joining a basketball team or something.0
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beautifulsparkles wrote: »TavistockToad wrote: »If you've got that much time to spend walking then seems find to me.
Definately have enough time, will just get out of bed earlier! Many people watch tv for more than 2 hours a day anyway, instead of having some sort of hobby. Its sad. But I need to exercise anyway.
You are fine. You can always set the treadmill to random hills if you have that feature.
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beautifulsparkles wrote: »
Maybe I need google glass... then I could watch movies AND walk in the beautiful New Zealand... although I might get hit by a bus.0 -
MeanderingMammal wrote: »Strikes me as incredibly boring, hence probably unsustainable, but not harmful.
Watching movies and talking to your dad is boring?0 -
Cherimoose wrote: »MeanderingMammal wrote: »Strikes me as incredibly boring, hence probably unsustainable, but not harmful.
Watching movies and talking to your dad is boring?
Two hours on a treadmill a day... Regardless of what distractions one might try, two hours on one of those things strikes me as a hideous experience. That said I can't put up with more then ten minutes on one.
fwiw watching a film isn't a distraction for me0 -
I don't think it's overkill, a lot of people do cardio every or most days and strength train 3x per week. My only concern would be, like others said, 1-2 hours on a treadmill sounds awfully boring no matter what distraction you have.0
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much better then laying on the couch! go for it and if or when it gets old switch to something new. Plus, talk to your personal trainer, he/she sees you and how you progress and will suggest new avenues as you take this journey! Good luck and remember ANYTHING IS BETTER THEN NOTHING!0
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i do both
i do the gym and strength training in the morning and jog a couple of miles at night.0
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